1.

2 The mole concept blank.notebook September 27, 2016

1
1.2 The mole concept blank.notebook September 27, 2016

What is the relative atomic mass (A r ) and relative molecular mass (M r )?

When talking about atomic and molecular masses we use the term molar mass . This
is a mass (of an atom or molecule) given in the units g/mol . This allows us to calculate
the number of grams if we know the number of moles.
E.g. What is the mass of exactly 1 mole of O atoms (M = 16.00 g/mol)?
1 mol x 16.00 g/mol = 16.00 g

When comparing the masses of atoms we tend to use relative atomic or relative
molecular masses . These are actually ratios between themolar mass of something
and 1/12 of the molar mass of an atom of 12C. As the molar mass of a carbon-12 atom
is 12 g/mol - 1/
12 x 12 g/mol = 1 g/mol

So if I compare an oxygen atom (M = 16.00 g/mol) with 1 g/mol my ratio is:

16.00 g/mol : 1 g/mol
16.00 : 1
Ratio = 16
(The units can be cancelled out so relative masses do not have any units.)
If this is confusing, consider what the ratio is between 4 red apples and 2 green apples.
Hoopefully you would state the ratio as 2:1 or simply 2 without any units.

2
1.2 The mole concept blank.notebook September 27, 2016

What is the molecular mass of:
1. Mg(NO3)2
2. Zn(OH)2
3. MgSO4·7H2O
4. [Al(H2O)6]3+

(Use your periodic table!)

3
1.2 The mole concept blank.notebook September 27, 2016
1.2 - The mole concept
As the masses of individual atoms are so small we prefer to deal with quantities of atoms
in SI units of moles .
This allows use to deal with more sensible masses instead of values like 3.27 x 10-25 kg.
If we compare the masses of a hydrogen, oxygen and sulphur atom:

The final number allows us to convert the mass of a single atom to a mass in grams. This
number is called the Avagadro number (after Amadeo Avagadro). This number is the
basis for our unit of quantity.
1 mole of a substance = 6.02 x 1023 particles of that substance
So a mole is just a quantity of something (just like a dozen eggs is 12 eggs).

http://www.kokogiak.com/megapenny/

PullPull

As 1 mole of any substance will give the same number of grams as its molar mass:
Number of moles x Molar mass (g/mol) = Mass (g)

380 g NaCl
Pull

1.7 g OH­

Hint: give your answers

to the same number of
significant figures as given
in the question.
Pull

4
1.2 The mole concept blank.notebook September 27, 2016

What is an empirical formula?

An empirical formula show the simplest whole-number ratio of atoms (of each
element) in a compound.
Remember, the molecular formula shows the actual number of each atom.
Molecular formula Empirical formula
C2H6
H2O2
H2O
C4H8O2
C6H12O6

Example data: Mass of magnesium used: 0.043 g

A of Mg = 24.31
Mass of oxygen in compound: 0.029 g
A of O = 16.00

5
1.2 The mole concept blank.notebook September 27, 2016

Pull

6
1.2 The mole concept blank.notebook September 27, 2016

Smog is common in cities throughout the world. One component of smog is PAN
(peroxyacylnitrate) which consists of 20.2 % C, 11.4 % N, 65.9 % O and 2.50 % H by
mass.
Determine the empirical formula of PAN, showing your working.
(HINT: Imagine you have 100g of the compound)

C 2 NO 5 H 3

I used a mass spectrometer to calculate the relative molecular mass of PAN as 242.
What is the molecular formula?

7
1.2 The mole concept blank.notebook September 27, 2016

<-- An example of percentage by mass information can

be seen on fertilizer bags.
Percentage by mass just shows composition of a
substance in terms of mass.
Question:
A company claims that its plant fertiliser, sodium
tetraborate pentahydrate (Na2B4O7·5H2O), contains
15.2% by mass of boron. What is the percentage error
in this claim?